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The Parasitic Rhizocephalan Barnacle Sacculina Carcini in Crabs of the Forth Estuary, Scotland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2009

S. Mathieson ,
A.J. Berry  and
S. Kennedy
S. Mathieson
Affiliation:
Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Erskine Court, The Castle Business Park, Stirling, FK9 4TR.
A.J. Berry
Affiliation:
Department of Biological & Molecular Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA
S. Kennedy
Affiliation:
Department of Biological & Molecular Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA
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Extract

In the Forth Estuary, Scotland, parasitic rhizocephalan barnacle Sacculina carcini externae or scars occurred on 64% of Carcinus maenas from the subtidal channel of the middle estuary. These became more frequent downstream, infecting 46·9% in the lower estuary basin. Male and female crabs were infected equally, and infection rates in low-tide samples did not differ from high-tide. The parasites occurred most frequently on crabs of 40–50 mm carapace width (CW) rather than the modal crab size class of 50–60 mm. Downstream, proportionately more smaller than larger crabs bore parasites whereas, further upstream, more larger than smaller crabs bore parasites. There is evidence for the annual appearance of new externae in July-October, especially in the lower estuary basin, followed by their growth and loss after about a year.

Type
Short Communications
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 78 , Issue 2 , May 1998 , pp. 665 - 667
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 1998

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References

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